Coin-controlled vending-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. L. SLATER. COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE. No. 485,140. Patented001;. 25, 1892.

M" d mfy Tm: uckms PETERS 00.. mom-Luna. wAsumn'ruN. n. c.

GEORGE L. SLATER, OF BUCHANAN,

PATENT OFFICE.

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LUOIUS G.

T ONG, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,140, dated October2 5, 1892.

Application filed June 18, 1892.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, GEORGE L. SLATER, of Buchanan, in the county ofBerrien and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coin Controlled Vending-Machines; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

This invention is an improved coin-controlled vending-machine; and itsobjects are 7 to simplify the construction of such machines and to makethe coin directly release the locking-pawl of the machine by using thecoin to guide such pawl over the locking notch or keeper.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction andcombinations of parts set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings by letters, Figure 1 is a central verticalsection through my improved vending apparatus, showing the position ofthe holder when locked in full lines, and when vibrated to discharge anarticle in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with thecasing-wall broken away, showing the locking devices. Fig. 3 is a frontview of the machine with front wall of easing broken away. Figs. 4 and 5are detail views of the ejector. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detachedviews of the pawl and keeper coinguides, showing the pawl in locked andunlocked positions, respectively. Fig.8 isadetail view of amodification.

The casing A of the machine is of any suitable form, preferablyrectangular, and within said casing is vertically suspended a swingingor oscillating holder 13, which is preferably open at front, top, andbottom, but is provided with retainingstrips B B at its front edges,which extend nearly to the bottom thereof, and with flanges b b on thelower edges of its sides, which are adapted to sustain the contents ofthe holder. The space between the bottoms of flanges B and flanges b isjust sufficient to permit the bottom package in the holder to be pushedout of the Serial No. 437,194. (No model.)

holder from beneath the others. front of the casing may be removable, soas to allow ready access to the holder for replenishing or ascertainingits contents.

Just in rear of the lower end of holder Bis a stationary ejector-plateC, which is mounted upon a transverse shelf A in the casing in suchposition that when the holder is swung backward the ejector standsbetween the flanges b and will strike the rear edge of the lowestpackage in the holder and cause the same to be ejected therefrom. Whenthe machine is to be used for envelopes, cards, or similar thinarticles, the ejector is preferably pivoted at its rear end between earsa a on the shelf, and its front end is bifurcated and the bifurcationsprovided with top lips O, which will readily enter between the envelopesor packages, and thereby assists in the separation and ejection of thelowermost envelope from the holder. The ejector may be verticallyadjusted by means of a set-screw c, as shown, to suit the thickness ofthe articles in the holder. \Vhere, however, the packages are thick, theejector may be a thick piece. A closed chamber D is formed in the casingbelow shelf A, and an opening is left in the front of the casing belowthe holder, so that articles ejected from the holder will fall upon theinclined front wall (1 of chamberD and can be readily removed by thepurchaser.

A" is ahorizontal bar secured in and transversely of the casing in frontof the holder in position to limit the outward swing of the holder andto prevent any packages therein slipping therefrom when the holder islocked.

E is a transverse shaft j ournaled in the sides of the casing beside barA, having an arm or arms E, which rest against the frontof the holderand causes the latter to swing backward when the shaft is properlyturned, as by means of a crank'E on its outer end. The holder isnormally held in vertical position and returned to such position by aspring 6, interposed between the back of holder and back of easing, asshown.

To the side of holder l3, near the front edge thereof, is pivoted achanneled pawliF, into The top or which the coin can be dropped througha slot in the front of the machine. The inner end of said pawl, when theholder is vertical, rests in a notch g in a tubular or channeledcoinguide G, fastened to the side of casing in rear of pawl F and besidethe holder. The said guide curves upwardly and rearwardly above notch-gand below said notch is extended down into chamber D.

H is a coin-detent formed of a bentrod pivotallysuspended by one end tothe side of the casing in rear of tube G, and its lower end enters saidtube through an opening therein below the-notch g in position to preventthe passage of a coin through the tube. h is aspringtoforcesaiddetentintothetube. When a coin is dropped intopawl-guide F, it will roll down the same and enter the upper end ofguide G above notch g, and will then drop down in the latter until it isarrested by the end of detent H, which projects in its way, as shown inFigs. 6 and 7, in which position its upper edge stands above the notchg. When there is no coin in the tube, pawl F engages with notch g andthe holder cannot be swung backward; but when the coin is stopped in thetube G, as described, if the holder is swung backward'pawl Frides up onthe edge of the coin, and is therebylifted clear of an overnotch g, sothat the holder can move backward sufficiently to cause a package to bedischarged from its lower end by ejector O, as indicated by dotted lineson Fig. 1. After the pawl rides over the coin past notch g the fart-herbackward movement of the holder (necessary to discharge a package)carries the pawl back until its end strikes the detent-rod, when thelatteris forced backward, so as to release the coin and allow it to fallthrough guide G into the chamber D. When the holder swings back, it islocked as before until another coin is dropped into guide G. Until thecoin falls the pawl cannot catch, and so the holder must be moved backsufficiently to discharge a package for each coin dropped therein. Bythis construction I do away with balance-levers, trips, 850., and makethe coin in its descent serve as a trip for the pawl, insure thedelivery of the goods, and prevent more than one package beingdischarged for a single coin.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 .the detent is omitted. The upperend of its coinguide is curved, so that the coin will be arrested by theend of pawl F, resting in notch g, a slight pocket, shoulder, ordepression g being formed in the lower part of the tube at this point toprevent the coin slipping back or up. In this construction after thepawl has been kept from looking in notch g, as described, and passes thecoin the latter drops on down.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. The combination of the casing, the swinging holder therein, theadjustable stationary ejector-plate in rear of said holder, the stop-barin front thereof, the rock-shaft for moving said holder backward, andthe spring for returning the holder to original position, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination of theswinging holder, the stationary ejector, thecasing, the notched coin-guide attached to the casing, and the pawlattached to the holder, engaging said guide, all constructed andarranged to operate substantially as described.

3. The combination of the holder, the casing, the notched coin-guideattached to casing, and the slotted coin-guiding pawl attached to theholder and engaging said notched guide, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a fixedanda movable part, of a coin-guide G,having notch g, and a slotted coin-guiding pawl, said guide and pawlbeing respectively connected to one of said parts, substantially asspecified.

5. The combination of a fixed and a movable part with a coin-guide tubehaving a notch g and pocket g opposite said notch, and a slottedcoin-guiding pawl adapted to engage said notch, said pawl and guide,respectively, attached to one of said parts, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the casing, the swinging holder therein havingretaining strips and flanges, the stop-bar, the armed rockshaft, and thespring with the stationary ejector and the coin-controlled devices forlocking or releasing said holder, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the casing, the swinging holder, and the ejectorwith the combined coin-guide and pawl attached to the holder and thecombined coin-guide and pawl-keeper attached to the casing, allconstructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

8. A holder and easing, substantially as described, in combination witha combined pawl-keeper and coin-guide and a pawl connected,respectively, to one of said parts and a coin-detent for said guide,adapted to be released by the pawl, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a fixed anda movable part, of a coin-guide G,having notch g, and a pawl, said guide and pawl being, respectively,connected to one of said parts, and the coin-detent in said guide,adapted to be released by said pawl, substantially as described.

10. The combination of the movable holder and casing with the coin-guideattached to said casing, having a notch, and a pawl attached to saidholder, adapted to engage said notch when the holder is in normalposition and be locked thereby, but to be released by a coin in saidguide, and a coin-detent adapted to hold said coin in position until itis In testimony that I claim the foregoing as [0 my own I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. SLATER.

Witnesses:

JAMEs DUSHANE, H. H. HUMPHREY.

